Written Answers Nos. 692-709
692. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to amend legislation dealing with private pensions in the private sector (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37823/12]
View answerThe provision for increases in payments to current pensioners is determined by the rules of the pension scheme and is not provided for in legislation. However, the Pensions Act was amended in 2009 to provide that where a scheme was considering a restructure of scheme benefits, it could decide to discontinue increases in payment to current pensioners.
The revaluation of preserved benefits for former scheme members is provided for in the Pension Act 1990. The Act prescribes that the percentage of increases applied shall be the lesser of the increase in the general level of consumer prices during that year or 4 per cent. While there was an increase of 2.6 per cent in the revaluation of preserved benefits for 2011, this was the first increase in preserved benefits in 3 years.
The revaluation rate applied to preserved benefits has for most of the last decade lagged behind the rate of change in the average industrial wage. This position has now been reversed. The increase in the average industrial wage in 2011 was 1.4%.
The operation of the Pension Act is monitored on an on-going basis and while there are no proposals at the moment to amend the revaluation provision in the Pensions Act the matter will be kept under review.
693. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding recruiting persons with a disability; the number of persons currently employed in her Department; the number of persons with a disability who have been employed since 1 January 2011 to date in 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37843/12]
View answerThe Department of Social Protection is committed to ensuring that its human resource practices, including recruitment, are fully in line with civil service policy on equality of opportunity. The total number of staff in the Department at the end of August 2012 was 7050, this equates to 6377 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) posts. It should be noted that figure includes staff from the Employment and Community services in FAS and the Community Welfare Service in the HSE that transferred to the Department since October 2011.
Currently there is no open recruitment for permanent positions in the Department, in line with the Government moratorium on recruitment in the Civil Service, which was announced on the 27th March 2009 and posts are filled by the redeployment or lateral transfer of staff from other Government Departments. The Department reports to the National Disability Authority (NDA) on 31st of December each year on the total number of staff that have self-declared a disability. At 31 December 2011 a total of 271 staff (4.2%) was reported.
The Department also participates in the Willing Able and Mentoring (WAM) Programme, which is administered by the Association of Higher Education Access and Disability (AHEAD). This is a work experience programme aimed at providing temporary work experience placements to graduates with disabilities in the public and private sector. This programme is not subject to the moratorium.
694. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the citizens information service in a town (details supplied) in County Donegal has been reduced from a five-day week service to a one day and at most two-day service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37846/12]
View answerDonegal Citizens Information Service (CIS) is funded through the Citizens Information Board to provide information, advice and advocacy services to the citizens of Co. Donegal. There are offices in Ballyshannon, Letterkenny, Buncrana, Carndonagh, Dungloe, Milford and Donegal Town as well as a number of outreach services.
Recruitment of a replacement staff member to the office in question is at the final stages and this will stabilise the service provided to the public in that location.
Donegal CIS will continue to provide targeted information sessions to local groups and communities where a need is identified or to meet specific requests and will keep the level of service provided in all its locations under review in line with available resources.
695. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the fact that people who are approved carers and only in receipt of half rate should not be specifically singled out for a cut as they are carrying out a lot of work for this additional payment, thereby saving the Exchequer a large amount of money, and that in fact this payment should be re-categorised as an allowance other than another normal social welfare payment because this is actually a payment for work and not for social welfare purposes; if she will give a commitment to protect the people who are providing this service for a maximum of 60 cent per hour for each hour they work in the week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37850/12]
View answerThere are almost 52,000 people in receipt of carer’s allowance from my Department at an annual cost of over €500 million. Of these, over 22,000 are getting half rate carer’s allowance in addition to another social welfare payment at an annual cost of some €90 million. These include carers in receipt of one parent family payments, disability allowance and the State pension. They also qualify for free travel and may qualify for the household benefits package.
There are no carers who are only in receipt of a half rate carer’s allowance. Carer’s allowance is not a payment for providing care but an income support for people who are unable to work because of their caring responsibilities. I have no plans to re-categorise it as outlined above.
The Government appreciates the work that carers do in providing care for their loved ones and has recognised this in the recently published National Carers’ Strategy. The means test for carer’s allowance is one of the most generous in the social welfare system. The income disregard is €332.50 per week for a single person and €665 per week for a couple. A couple with two children can earn up to €35,400 and qualify for the maximum rate of carer’s allowance while a couple earning €59,300 will still qualify for the minimum rate of carer’s allowance and also the household benefits and free travel.
In the current economic climate every scheme in my Department must be kept under review, particularly payments that are additional to a primary weekly payment. As part of the deliberative process for the next Budget, my Department will analyse, in so far as possible, the distributive and poverty impact of possible social welfare changes. These impacts will be taken into account in arriving at the final decisions on the Budget. No decisions have been made at this stage in relation to welfare expenditure for next year.
696. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline in respect of people who are on the half-rate carers allowance the breakdown of the primary payments that these people are in receipt of in the first instance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37851/12]
View answerThe following table outlines the breakdown of the primary payments carers are in receipt of along with a half rate carer’s allowance, as of the end of July 2012.
|
Scheme person is in receipt of along with a half rate Carer’s Allowance |
Caring for 1 person |
Caring for 2 people |
Total |
|
Adoptive Benefit |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Back to Work Employee Increase for a Qualified Adult |
75 |
0 |
75 |
|
Back to Work Self Employed |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Blind Pension |
15 |
2 |
17 |
|
Blind Pension Increase for a Qualified Adult |
27 |
2 |
29 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit |
268 |
22 |
290 |
|
Disability Allowance |
1005 |
66 |
1071 |
|
Disability Allowance Increase for a Qualified Adult |
1376 |
7 |
1383 |
|
Farm Assist |
130 |
4 |
134 |
|
Farm Assist Increase for a Qualified Adult |
138 |
4 |
142 |
|
Illness Benefit |
834 |
49 |
883 |
|
Illness Benefit Increase for a Qualified Adult |
300 |
2 |
302 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
3 |
0 |
3 |
|
Incapacity Supplement Increase for a Qualified Adult |
4 |
0 |
4 |
|
Injury Benefit |
8 |
0 |
8 |
|
Injury Benefit Increase for a Qualified Adult |
5 |
0 |
5 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
915 |
74 |
989 |
|
Invalidity Pension Increase for a Qualified Adult |
1179 |
11 |
1190 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance Increase for a Qualified Adult |
1319 |
19 |
1338 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit Increase for a Qualified Adult |
388 |
4 |
392 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
52 |
1 |
53 |
|
Not in receipt of another Social Welfare Payment |
367 |
10 |
377 |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
3975 |
329 |
4304 |
|
Pre-Retirement Allowance |
77 |
1 |
78 |
|
Pre-Retirement Allowance Increase for a Qualified Adult Allowance |
26 |
0 |
26 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
3390 |
66 |
3456 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) Increase for a Qualified Adult |
1643 |
28 |
1671 |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
2222 |
50 |
2272 |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) Increase for a Qualified Adult |
270 |
1 |
271 |
|
State Pension Transition |
22 |
0 |
22 |
|
State Pension Transition Increase for a Qualified Adult |
3 |
0 |
3 |
|
Widow's / Widower's (Contributory) Pension |
1136 |
69 |
1205 |
|
Widow's / Widower's (Non-Contributory) Pension |
84 |
2 |
86 |
|
Total in receipt of Half Rate Carer’s Allowance |
21259 |
823 |
22082 |
697. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons here on the half-rate carer's allowance and if this will be broken down on a county basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37852/12]
View answerThe following table outlines the current county by county breakdown of the number of people in receipt of half-rate carer’s allowance.
|
County |
No. |
|
CORK |
2724 |
|
CLARE |
547 |
|
CAVAN |
310 |
|
CARLOW |
375 |
|
DUBLIN |
4686 |
|
DONEGAL |
1127 |
|
GALWAY |
1069 |
|
KILDARE |
746 |
|
KILKENNY |
399 |
|
KERRY |
828 |
|
LIMERICK |
1199 |
|
LONGFORD |
321 |
|
LOUTH |
586 |
|
LEITRIM |
197 |
|
LAOIS |
351 |
|
MEATH |
569 |
|
MONAGHAN |
279 |
|
MAYO |
757 |
|
OFFALY |
466 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
328 |
|
SLIGO |
350 |
|
TIPPERARY |
1120 |
|
WATERFORD |
630 |
|
WESTMEATH |
468 |
|
WICKLOW |
588 |
|
WEXFORD |
949 |
|
TOTAL |
21969 |
698. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection her proposals regarding locating staff (details supplied) in County Laois and the current position on this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37853/12]
View answerThe Department is actively pursuing the setting up of a Control Office in Portlaoise. The new office will be based at Government Buildings, Abbeyleix Rd, Portlaoise in a space previously occupied by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The Office of Public Works is currently finalising plans for the required renovations and hope to issue tender documents in the very near future with a view to commencement of works shortly thereafter.
The route for filling vacancies created in Portlaoise will be through redeployment in the first instance and this panel is managed by the Public Appointments Service. If sufficient staff cannot be identified through redeployment then transfer lists will be used to fill any shortfall.
Currently there are two deciding officers based in the Portlaoise Branch Office and two deciding officers from Kilkenny Local Office attend Portlaoise one day per week to implement decisions on Jobseekers claims. The remainder of claims are decided in the Kilkenny Local Office. The long-term plan is that, when open and on a phased basis, the Portlaoise Control Office will take on all decisions for Jobseeker & One Parent Family claims for the three Branch Offices located in Co. Laois, i.e. Portlaoise, Rathdowney and Portarlington.
699. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37864/12]
View answerI understand that the Deputy is referring to a recent newspaper article by the person concerned. The article raised a number of interesting points particularly around the issues of job creation and the interaction of the employment and welfare spheres.
The article discusses whether people on the Live Register have a financial incentive to work given the level of wages available in the economy and the level of social welfare payments made to people on the Register. In this regard it should be noted that the great majority of people on the Live Register have a strong financial incentive to work and significant numbers leave the register each year. Indeed, for many unemployed people, unemployment is a short-term experience and the author of the article acknowledges that jobseeker’s supports have an important role to play in supporting people through periods of involuntary unemployment.
The issue of welfare dependency is also addressed in the article. In this area my Department is engaging with jobseekers in order to support them and their families in progressing into employment. One of the key concepts underpinning pathways to work and the new national employment and entitlements service is the relationship between the jobseeker and the Department. In accepting payment of benefit and support, the jobseeker shall agree to avail of the appropriate support measures offered during the course of the activation process, whether this is employment, education, training or placement in employment schemes.
With regard to the suggestion in the article that the Government should provide a database on which employers could, on a free of charge basis, advertise vacancies, the Department already provides such a service at www.jobsireland.ie. Each year approximately 70,000 vacant positions are published on this site. The site also allows jobseekers to upload their CVs onto the database and employers can then match their job requirements against the profile of the candidate CVs.
Internships of the type suggested in the article are available under the jobbridge scheme which is also managed via this computer system. The Department is currently considering how it can improve this service.
Latterly, the article proposes consideration of replacing jobseeker’s allowance with a compulsory work system. While the establishment of such a system would be a matter for my colleague the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in the first instance, I would note that there could be significant potential for such a system to interfere with the functioning of the labour market, for example through substitution of existing work. In addition, it is difficult to see how any such system could be implemented without imposing very substantial additional costs on the Exchequer.
700. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date regarding an appeal for invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37889/12]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal, by the person concerned, was registered in that office on 18th July 2012. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When received, the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
701. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection If she will expedite an appeal for mortgage interest supplement in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37903/12]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 6th July 2012. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 14th August 2012 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
702. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will streamline the current situation where people coming off FÁS courses are left without a direct continuation of welfare payment while seeking work, as if they are unable to obtain work in the meantime, it can take up to five to six weeks before a jobseeker's payment is resumed; if she will implement a smooth and direct transition to the appropriate welfare payment rather than the existing system whereby these people have to apply for a supplementary welfare payment in the interim, as this is causing additional administration time delays in the welfare system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37904/12]
View answerIn cases where a jobseeker customer takes up temporary work for a short period or avails of a short-term training course, arrangements are in place to temporarily suspend the claim so that it can be re-instated without delay when the work or training finishes.
When a customer receives an offer of temporary employment or a training course they should give full details to their social welfare local office and contact the office without delay when the course or employment ends
The average processing times for jobseeker benefit claims in August 2012 was 2.35 weeks and 4.49 weeks for Jobseeker allowance claims. In cases referred to by the Deputy the processing time under the present arrangements would in most cases be less.
The Department is constantly reviewing its operational procedures to ensure that customers do not have to apply for Supplementary Welfare Allowance payments. A procedural review specifically targeting the cohort of customer who take up training courses or temporary employment is currently underway.
Question No. 703 withdrawn.
704. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when payment will issue in respect of an application for one-parent family payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37913/12]
View answerThe one parent family application of the person concerned is being processed at present, and she will be informed of the outcome in due course.
705. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an interim payment will be made on an application for one-parent family allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37914/12]
View answerAn application for supplementary welfare allowance from the person concerned has been awarded and is in payment.
706. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding dyslexia; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37920/12]
View answerIt is the policy of my Department to standardise and simplify its application forms as much as possible. Plain English principles are applied in the design of all primary application forms to ensure that they are available in a simple, clear, easy to read format that is accessible to people with different levels of literacy ability. Application forms can also be provided in alternative format such as audio which would be helpful to those who have reading difficulties.
My Department operates a network of some 125 social welfare local and branch offices throughout the country. Each local office has dedicated information officers providing information on all the Department’s schemes and services and who are available to assist with the completion of application forms where required.
In addition, the nationwide network of over 200 Citizens Information Centres offer a drop-in service where callers can meet information providers face-to-face. Staff in these centres assist and support individuals, in particular those with disabilities, access their entitlements and advocate on their behalf in this regard.
I am satisfied that the assistance and support available to customers, including those with disabilities such as dyslexia, through my Department’s offices and through the Citizens Information Services offices enables them to access my Department’s schemes and services in a timely and effective manner that best meets their needs.
707. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if half rate for carers allowance will be applied in respect of arrears in regard to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37925/12]
View answerThe person in question is in receipt of half-rate carer’s allowance at present.
Arrears for carer’s allowance were paid for the period Thursday 16th June 2011 to 25th April 2012. The total amount due was €13,203.00. However, the person in question was in receipt of interim supplementary welfare allowance from 13th July 2011 to the 26th of April 2012. This payment was made to her pending a decision being made on her carer’s allowance application. The total sum paid in respect of supplementary welfare allowance was €11,300.50.
This amount was deducted from the carer’s allowance arrears due in accordance with the regulations. The balance of €1,902.50 issued to the person in question on 10th May 2012.
The person concerned has therefore received all money due in respect of her carer’s allowance application.
708. Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on a claim for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37928/12]
View answerI confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question.
On completion of the necessary investigations relating to all aspects of the case a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. It is expected that a decision will be made shortly in this case.
709. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the decision to refuse invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37952/12]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal, by the person concerned, was registered in that office on 03rd September 2012. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When received, the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
